Weclome to Flight Ops (Hanger & Flight Deck)

[Akirapryde]

Stardate: 53831.89
USS Thunderchild, NCC-63549
Deck 13, Hanger Deck
The Dragon's Lair
Lieutenant Arron Duncanson, Lieutenant Rebbecca Paxton, Lieutenant (JR) Mordecai Noonia

"What color is for Pilots on Mission or otherwise, " Lieutenant Noonia's questioned.

Lieutenant Paxton nodded as she pointed to a pair of pilots departing from their Attack Fighter once it was secured in its location on the hanger deck. They were wearing some kind of armored flight suit. "Pilots have no colored vest, Hollywood" she pointed out. "Their flight suits set them apart from deck hands" she explained then paused. "That being said, look closely" she said drawing his attention to the color lines along the floor. "Each mark indicates your free access zone" She started to explain.

Lieutenant Duncanson picked up the answer from there, "Along the 'Pits' where the fighters are secured when not in motion or on mission, is a free access area. Pilots can come and go to their craft as they wish," he explained and knelt down as he motioned Noonia to follow suit. Lieutenant Paxton also joined them on her knee as well. They were standing in a 'Free Access Zone' as Lieutenant Duncanson motioned and showed the lay out of all the different colored lines across the deck.

"This rainbow ribbon indicates that only those with color vests can cross this line" explained Paxton. "This is how we keep visitors safe from moving equipment. Each Deck Captain and Deck Com ensures that at no time moving equipment comes within five meters of this line" she explained and pointed to a ling that was clearly marked by another rainbow line. However this new line excluded the color green. "See that line there marks the barrier for all Green Vests. For a Green Vest to cross it, he must have permission from the Deck Captain or a Deck Com. It is my order that even though a Deck Com can give that permission, that they must seek approval from the Deck Captain prior to issuing it. This insures that the Deck Captains can maintain awareness of what is going on along their Deck."

Lieutenant Duncanson nodded as he picked up the explanation, "see Lieutenant, here we can move freely without permissions. However should we cross that line, we would have to seek approval from the Deck Captain first." he said pointing to the Crewman Third Class standing at the far end of the deck. The Crewmen was very observant of what was going on and was issuing commands to crewmen as they moved along the deck. It was clear that he was 'speaking' over a mic next to his mouth while giving hand signals to a pair of green vested crewmen and a pair of pilots returning from the maintenance bay. "Each time the Deck Captain issues permission or as a craft is in motion, he is communicating with the Flight Operations team. From there, they monitor all activity here and on the flight deck."

Paxton interjected with "we don't rely on sensors or computers down here. Its eyes on, all the time, Hollywood."

Lines along the deck were clear to see and now their meanings had been explained in detail. The large open deck was sectioned off in to areas of free access based on responsibilities. To cross the lines required that the next higher authority knew what was going on and was able to track the activity. This was fundamental to the orderly operation of the deck. While the deck was only partial used, already the system was showing how it ensured safe and expedited operations. Over seeing the entire operation were a small group of crewmen wearing white vests who's rank were that of only crewmen. However they commanded this deck and the safe operations that were going on. Ownership of safety was clearly something that was stressed within this Division. One of the crewmen in white vests waved a Vulcan pilot who happened to be a lieutenant to stop. With respect to the authority of the white vest, the pilot stopped his crossing of the deck and waited till the white vest cleared him to continue. Noonia could easily see that rank held no special privileges here when it came to safety.

Lieutenant Paxton slowly stood and looked at Lieutenant Noonia and with a nod, "Okay lets continued. We have six in-line cargo transporters. Three starboard and three port" she explained motioned to the large cargo transporter pads long the sides of the Hanger deck that were midship. "Craft are beamed up to the flight deck from here and beamed down. These transporters are not like the rest on the ship. These are in-line, meaning that they can only operate within this network. So there is no sight to sight or using them to beam off or even on the ship. It is only one of two ways to reach the flight deck from this hanger without leaving it."

Lieutenant Duncanson picked up from there, "There are six MagLev lifts along the center of the hanger deck that can be brought down and raise fighters up to the flight deck should we suffer power failure to those transporters. However these lifts are not air locks. It is the order of the CAG that the Flight Deck be kept at a state of Zero Atmosphere during flight operations. Just as it would be during combat operations. While there is armor and a shield grids between this deck and the flight deck, the risk of decompression is too great. This is the reason why you have to wear that belt and we are all in EV suits."

Lieutenant Paxton nodded, "It takes all of thirty seconds for this deck to completely depressurize. Long before that happens Hollywood, emergency bulkheads will seal this deck off from the rest of the ship. As long as this deck is depressurized, Only the First Officer or the Captain can open one of those bulkheads. Survival of those within this deck depends on being ready for that event. During tests, it was discovered that during a crisis which included catastrophic structural failure, half of the deck's personnel would be at risk of death. Chances are that they would be unable to reach safety before the atmosphere was vented in to space or the bulkheads sealed this deck. This is why everyone on this deck wears either a life support belt or EV suit. Regardless of rank" she said hinting to the issue during the past visit from that Admiral.

Lieutenant Duncanson took over, "Your records didn't show anything more than basic Zero Atmosphere Training. If you don't have much experience, don't worry. You will get it here. As we said, everyone learns everyone else's job. You never know where you will be working from day to day. Last month, I was helping out repairing one of the Valkyries. Unlike other departments, we are jack of all trades here."

"But we are also expected to be masters of those trades as well" Lieutenant Paxton interjected. She paused a moment before continuing, "this is a completely new Division among Starfleet Operations. We don't even had specialized schools at Starfleet Academy for our roles here." she pointed to one of the Red Shirts, "That is Crewman Blake, a communication's specialist. Working here is as much voluntary as it is a privilege. Crewman Blake just tested out of his training for Deck Captain. Next week he will be assigned to the Flight Operations where he will over see the Flight Deck Operations. Once he tests out of that position, he will be able to be assigned to the Flight Deck as a Deck Captain." There was a sense of pride as she watched the young crewmen in the red vest escort a anti-grav sled filled with mirco-torpedoes across the hanger deck. She turned back to Lieutenant Noonia and looked him in the eye, "I can't afford to loss one of my crew members to anything, if it can be avoided."

Lieutenant Duncanson nodded, "This is why Lieutenant Noonia, we train so hard down here. We work long ten hour shifts. The shifts over laps one hour on each side for maximum coverage. We all work seven days on while on mission. However once the Flight Deck is secured from operations, Lieutenant Paxton doesn't want to see anyone on her decks. But until then, she runs this deck as if we are at a state of emergency at all times. Its hard on us. It forces us to step up and better ourselves." he half turned to her and as he smiled, "but it also forged us in to a tighter family." She didn't reply as she started to turn to continue the tour.